Itinerary

Day 1San José

Arrive at any time.

Arrive in at any time. Check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Please try to arrive before 6pm for an important group meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.

Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting

1h

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Accommodation

Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas (or similar)

Hotel

Day 2San José/Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Travel to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast to the picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Enjoy 14km (8.7 mi) of incomparable white and black sand beaches, all surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation.

There are several optional activities available: rent a bike or hire a boat to Manzanillo, hike to Monkey Point through the Gandoca - Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, or try snorkelling. Feeling lazy? Take it easy and explore La Isla Botanical Gardens.

Local bus

San José – Puerto Viejo de Talamanca5h210km

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Optional Activities - Day 2

Bike Rental

Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.

Snorkelling

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Grab a mask and snorkel and head out to explore the marine life off the coast. Check out the beaches of Punta Uva (Grape Point), Punta Mona (Monkey Point), and Manzanillo for some of the country's best snorkelling. See coral, fish, octopus, sea turtles and harmless nurse sharks.

Finca la Isla Botanical Garden Visit

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Just outside the town is a tropical farm, part of which is set aside as a botanical garden. Finca la Isla is a working farm and botanical garden built from the remains of an abandoned cacao plantation. Sample homemade natural chocolate, drink tropical fruit drinks, learn about the production of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as ornamental plants. Shoot some colourful photos and be careful where you walk. Visitors are guaranteed to see the red poison dart frog, along with other frogs, reptiles, toucans and birds.

Accommodation

Kayas Place (or similar)

Hotel

Day 3Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Rent a boogie board if the waves are calling, dance the night away to reggae and calypso, taste flavourful Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and succumb to the natural beauty of this tropical paradise.

Carte Blanche

Puerto Viejo de TalamancaFull Day

There's plenty to see and do in Puerto Viejo, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like snorkelling, biking, and hiking in the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

Optional Activities - Day 3

Boogie Boarding

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Rent a boogie board and enjoy playing in the surf.

Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Beginning at the Cocles River south of Puerto Viejo, the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge extends through beach communities, jungle, marshland, coves and coast all the way to the Sixaola River and the border with Panama. Begin in Manzanillo and wind your way through plantations of cacao, strangler fig and almond trees, look for capuchin and howler monkeys, sloths and raccoons. White sand beaches lead into aquamarine water, filled with 35 species of coral and tropical fish, sea turtles, lobsters and sting rays. Wear light clothing, walking shoes, and bring lots of water and insect repellent.

Snorkelling

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Grab a mask and snorkel and head out to explore the marine life off the coast. Check out the beaches of Punta Uva (Grape Point), Punta Mona (Monkey Point), and Manzanillo for some of the country's best snorkelling. See coral, fish, octopus, sea turtles and harmless nurse sharks.

Bike Rental

Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.

Finca la Isla Botanical Garden Visit

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Just outside the town is a tropical farm, part of which is set aside as a botanical garden. Finca la Isla is a working farm and botanical garden built from the remains of an abandoned cacao plantation. Sample homemade natural chocolate, drink tropical fruit drinks, learn about the production of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as ornamental plants. Shoot some colourful photos and be careful where you walk. Visitors are guaranteed to see the red poison dart frog, along with other frogs, reptiles, toucans and birds.

Accommodation

Kayas Place (or similar)

Hotel

Day 4Puerto Viejo de Talamanca/Bocas del Toro

Crossing into Panama, travel by bus, foot, then a boat to arrive to the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, which means the bull’s mouth. Enjoy free time while here to snorkel, scuba dive, or just relax on the beach.

Local bus

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca – Sixaola1h30m70km

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Border Crossing (Costa Rica - Panama)

Sixaola – Guabito

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Accommodation

Hotel del Parque (or similar)

Days 5–6Bocas del Toro

Free Time

Bocas del ToroFull Day

Get out and explore beautiful Bocas del Toro.

Optional Activities - Days 5–6

Sailing Snorkelling Tour

Bocas del Toro1h-8h

45USD per person

Set out on the calm waters around Bocas del Toro and sail to Dolphin Bay, enjoy seeing Bottle Nose Dolphins play in the waves. Head to Mangrove Reef, Isla San Cristobal for some snorkelling in the diverse reefs in the area. After you've had enough of discovering urchins, anemones, and swimming with schools of tiny fish, enjoy a simple but yummy lunch on the boat on route to The Garden, Isla Solarte. Enjoy even more snorkelling around parrot fish and other sea creatures before heading back to the island.

Scuba Diving

Bocas del Toro

70-250USD per person

Sign up for a SCUBA trip with a local outfitter and cross another dive spot off your list.

Island Hopping

Bocas del Toro

Hop on a boat and spend time at some of the nine islands that make up the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Look skyward to see the birds of Bird Island, head to Starfish Beach to see stunning starfish in the shallow water, swim with dolphins in Dolphin Bay and visit a Caribbean indigenous village on Bastimentos. Lots to explore, so get hopping!

Accommodation

Hotel del Parque (or similar)

Hotel

Day 7Bocas del Toro/Boquete

Back on the mainland, settle in for a long day of travel before arriving at the mountain town of Boquete. A plethora of outdoor options await, including hiking, whitewater rafting and touring a coffee plantation.

Boat

Bocas del Toro – Almirante30m

Climb aboard and get your float on.

Local bus

Almirante – Boquete5h30m-7h340km

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Accommodation

Hostal Boquete (or similar)

Hotel

Day 8Boquete

Opt to go whitewater rafting, tour a coffee plantation, or hike through the cloud forest.

Carte Blanche

BoqueteFull Day

There's plenty to see and do in Boquete, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, and visiting a coffee plantation. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

Optional Activities - Day 8

Hiking

Boquete1h-8h3-10km

35USD per person

Choose from a variety of hiking tours, from low-impact routes through botanical gardens or challenging full-day trips to see waterfalls and unforgettable wildlife.

Coffee Plantation Tour

Boquete

30USD per person

Head out into the hills to visit one of the many coffee plantations in the region. Learn about the production process and have a sample or two of the locally-grown "café" while taking in the beautiful scenery.

Whitewater Rafting

75USD per person

Buckle up your lifejacket, strap on a helmet and head out to where white water meets green jungle on Panama’s Chiriqui Viejo River. Paddle down Class III+ rapids and hold on tight as the expert guide sets a course past boulders and over waterfalls. Feel alive and enjoy the ride.

Accommodation

Hostal Boquete (or similar)

Hotel

Day 9Boquete/Santa Catalina

Travel to the Pacific Coast for a few more beach days. Santa Catalina has easy access to two black-sand beaches and is a great home base for fishing, snorkelling, boat trips, diving and surfing, as well as exploring numerous nature trails in the area.

This small, friendly, and laid-back town on the Pacific coast is the perfect place to wind down. Look up and see flocks of parrots as they soar the skies above the hills around Santa Catalina.

Santa Catalina is the closest access point to Coiba Island, part of the nation’s largest marine park, described as a cross between the Galapagos and Cocos Islands. Time and weather permitting, it may be possible to organize an optional boat trip to explore this marine park.

Private Vehicle

Boquete – Santa Catalina4h275km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Oasis Surf Camp (or similar)

Campground

Days 10–11Santa Catalina

Enjoy a lazy day at the beach. Opt to explore beautiful Coiba NP or take a surfing lesson.

Free Time

Santa CatalinaFull Day

Do as much or as little as you'd like during a free day.

Optional Activities - Days 10–11

Surfing Lesson

Grab your swimsuit and get ready to hang ten! Learn how to find and ride the waves with surfing lessons from local experts. Enjoy the fresh sea air, and try to spot local marine life while enjoying the waters.

Coiba Island Marine Park Visit

Isla de Coiba

70USD per person

Take a boat to Coiba, the largest island in Central America Island, and visit this Panamanian marine park. Snorkel, swim, and learn more about the biodiversity of this beautiful area off the Pacific Coast.

Accommodation

Oasis Surf Camp (or similar)

Campground

Day 12Santa Catalina/Panama City

Leave the beach and travel to Panama's capital. Enjoy an optional night out with the group, and save some energy for exploring various parts of the city.

Private Vehicle

Santa Catalina – Panama City6h375km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Hotel Centroamericano (or similar)

Hotel

Day 13Panama City

Enjoy free time to explore the city or visit the Panama Canal.

Free Time

Panama CityFull Day

Get out and explore bustling Panama City. Don't miss the canal.

Optional Activities - Day 13

Panama Canal Visit

Panama City2h-3h

25USD per person

Visit the Panama Canal, including the Miraflores Locks and on-site museum. The Panama Canal is considered to be one of the greatest engineering wonders of the world. It extends 77km (48 mi) over a series of lakes and locks and connects the Atlantic (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean. Discover the dramatic history of its construction, beginning with the French in the late 1800's, the official completion by the US in 1914, and what’s happened since. Witness a freighter, sailboat, or maybe even a submarine, transit through a lock. It’s an experience not to be missed.

Accommodation

Hotel Centroamericano (or similar)

Hotel

Day 14Panama City

Depart at any time.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

ACCEPT COOKIESTo give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. Using this site means you agree to our use of cookies. We have published a cookies policy, which you should read to find out more about the cookies we use. View cookies policy.